With the coldest temperatures of the season arriving in the next few days, two Dallas agencies who serve the homeless are banding together to protect thousands of vulnerable individuals from the harsh, potentially fatal temperatures.
Austin Street Center, one of Dallas’ largest emergency and day-service shelters, and OurCalling, a faith-based, daytime outreach center for the homeless, are joining forces to repurpose Austin Street’s former, now unused facility, to provide respite and accommodations for individuals living outdoors and on the streets in the midst of forecasted cold snaps of weather.
In June, Austin Street Center opened its doors to a new 60,000-square-foot facility that provides safe shelter with a capacity to serve nearly 500 individuals daily. Austin Street Center’s previous facility, located across the street at 2929 Hickory St. in Dallas is currently unoccupied but will be used as the City of Dallas’ Inclement Weather Shelter on an as-needed basis, helping an additional 360 individuals.
Austin Street Center’s team will conduct intake at the Inclement Weather Shelter, and OurCalling’s team will run the day-to-day operations of the temporary shelter. The Inclement Weather Shelter will be used only when the City of Dallas activates its inclement weather policy (when overnight temperatures dip below 32 degrees).
With a frigid forecast on the horizon, the plan is for the Inclement Weather Shelter to open overnight on Thursday, Dec. 22. Shelter guests will receive breakfast, lunch and dinner along with access to showers, restroom facilities and safe shelter.
To make certain homeless individuals are alerted in a timely fashion, OurCalling will use its proprietary technology known as the Homeless Emergency Broadcast System to send text messages instructing them to head to the Inclement Weather Shelter at 2929 Hickory St. in Dallas. Also, OurCalling will step up its Search and Rescue efforts, going deep into the woods and under overpasses to find and take individuals to the shelter.
The public is invited to visit ourcalling.org/cold or austinstreet.org to volunteer or make a resource or financial donation.
LOCATION: Austin Street Center is located at 1717 Jeffries St. in Dallas. The Inclement Weather Shelter is located across the street at 2929 Hickory St. in Dallas.
